Question

NAM was considered a ‘third option’ by third world countries. How did this option benefit their growth during the peak of the Cold War?

Answer 1

Instruction:
Keep the focus on how NAM provided a third front to weaker nations and this in turn opened up new opportunities for them to engage more fruitfully in global markets and economies.

Solution:

1. Non-alignment offered newly freed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, a third option of not joining either alliance.
2. A majority of NAM members were categorised as the Least Developing Countries, these were to be developed economically over time. An option came up to help them grow without depending on either the USSR or USA.
3. Third World countries chose not to remain dependent on richer countries. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development brought out a report in 1972 entitled a New Trade Policy for Development which proposed a reform of the global trading system.
4. Third world countries got control over their own natural resources which were being exploited by developed western countries.
5. Economic arrangements were made to make trade more beneficial and to reduce cost-of-technology from western countries.
6. Help was given to make third world countries engage with a greater role in international economic institutions.